Here’s what you should be aware of:
- For many years, the landing site has been an essential center for fishermen and merchants throughout the Lake Victoria region.
The fishing population at Masese Landing Site within Jinja City is urgently requesting much-needed improvements to the region to bolster their income sources and encourage sustainable financial development. For many years, Masese Landing Site has been an essential center for fishermen and merchants throughout the Lake Victoria basin. Nonetheless, even though this location holds significant strategic value, it still lacks proper development, featuring insufficient structures, substandard hygiene conditions, and restricted availability to contemporary fishing tools and preservation amenities.
Mr. Godfrey Lumala, who serves as the chairperson of the Masese Landing Site, criticized both previous and present officials of Jinja City for overlooking the requirements of the fishing populace. According to him, the landing site, which was formerly a bustling hub of economic activity, has lost much of its historic importance. "Masese played an essential role in trade activities; fishermen would bring their catches, agricultural producers would sell crops, and merchants from all over came together at this location," he stated. Additionally, tourists visited just to see Lake Victoria’s beauty. However, nowadays, the facilities stand as mere remnants compared to what they were before," Mr. Lumala added.
He lamented the absence of fundamental facilities, including public restrooms, even though the area accommodates over 7,000 individuals. "It is intolerable that we depend on a handful of run-down lavatories. City hall needs to step in before we encounter a serious health emergency, particularly considering the threat of cholera," he cautioned. Mr. Lumala further condemned municipal officials for focusing on collecting fees from hard-pressed street sellers without providing necessary services in exchange. Mr. Joseph Aron Mahende, a nearby tour operator, noted that despite the location's promise, its development has been hampered by ecological, structural, and socio-economic obstacles. "Visitors and learners frequently leave feeling deceived since what they experience here contrasts sharply with the information available online. This discrepancy highlights significant neglect at this spot," he remarked.
Greed
Mr Mahende attributed the lack of progress to greed and corruption among government officials, accusing them of putting personal interests before community development. Mr Hassan Magumba, the defence secretary at the landing site, echoed the frustrations, stating that road access to the site is worsening by the day. “When it rains, the road becomes impassable, full of gullies. The culverts that were meant to aid drainage have been washed into the lake,” he said. Mr Musa Kakaire, a fisherman, expressed disappointment with local leaders who, he claims, have abandoned the community since the 2021 elections. “No elected leader has returned to even thank us. The council should upgrade Masese to match other landing sites nationwide. That would attract investment and create jobs,” he said. Masese Landing Site currently supports more than 7,000 people engaged in water transport, fishing, boat building, and the trade of fresh produce from Buvuma, Namayingo, Mayuge, and other districts.
Each day, between 20 and 200 boats dock at the site, including fishing vessels and passenger boats. The site is also home to a field work study centre that hosts geography students from across Uganda. Charges for visitors are modest: students pay Shs1,000, adults Shs2,000. Parking fees are Shs15,000 for buses, Shs10,000 for coasters, and Shs5,000 for taxis. However, locals say there is no visible development to show for this revenue. Despite multiple attempts, Jinja City Council leaders declined to comment on the site’s prolonged stagnation.
Funding gap
Mr. Nasser Ashraf, the mayor of Jinja South Division, recognized the necessity for redevelopment but cited inadequate funding as the cause of delays. "Initially, Masese was designed to support defunct fish factories," stated Mr. Ashraf. However, he expressed hopefulness regarding current initiatives such as the refurbishment of Jinja Pier and the creation of a rescue center, believing these efforts would attract fresh investments. He underscored the significance of joint financial contributions from local administrations, state entities, and developmental organizations to revamp the area. According to him, this endeavor extends beyond aiding fishermen; it aims at enhancing the overall productivity within Jinja's vital fishing sector.
7,000
The population at Masese Landing Site presently accommodates over 7,000 individuals involved in water transportation, fishing, boat construction, and the sale of fresh goods.
Background
The postponement of redevelopment efforts for Masese began in 2005 when the Egyptian government, alongside Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Animal Husbandry, committed funding through what was known as the Egyptian Irrigation Project. This initiative encompassed plans such as building water-based restrooms, fish markets, storage structures, facilities for weighing catches, docking areas for boats, and administrative buildings. Nonetheless, disputes among those involved halted further development, resulting in none of these improvements being carried out. Currently, members of the local fishing community are calling upon the authorities to reconsider this project.
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